Tag Archives: Traveling

Alaska parents are nothing if not perpetual planners. We have to be. Skilled masters of calendaring everything from fishing trips to hockey tournaments, moms and dads across the 49th state know the right time to jump on a good deal, and that time is right now, thanks to last week’s release of the 2016 Permanent Fund dividend amount.

Between the end of September and early October, expect specials, discounts and incentives to buy, buy, buy.

What can you find in the way of family vacation deals for $1,000 per person?

With a bit of research, patience and a dash of impulsiveness, quite a bit. Kids have school in-service days coming up, and long holiday weekends are around the corner. Perhaps it’s time to invest in places rather than things.

*Tips: Don’t delay, especially when booking air travel out of Alaska. Be flexible with departure and return dates, as the savings can be significant. Consider visiting a destination you’ve never been; some of our favorite family memories were built on small towns, obscure drives, and local parks. And parents of Alaska school-age children need to remember that travel using the PFD airfares is blacked out over Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break.

Alaska Destinations

*Anchorage-Fairbanks, $77/one way on Alaska Airlines. Short on time or looking to show your kids Interior Alaska? A trip to Fairbanks means ample space at the Fairbanks Children’s Museum, Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center, the University of Alaska Museum of the North, Chena Hot Springs and Creamer’s Field Migratory Bird Refuge. Stay at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge and take advantage of their Alaska resident rates and a view of the Chena River. OF ALL THE PLACES TO STAY IN FAIRBANKS, WONDERING IF IT MAKES SENSE TO SINGLE OUT ONE? Pioneer Park, the former Alaskaland that many people remember, also has a wealth of special events throughout the fall and winter. Visitor information is available atwww.explorefairbanks.com.

*Anchorage-Juneau, $117/one way on Alaska Airlines. Alaska’s capital city offers a wealth of recreational activities year round. Rent a car and hike the trails of Eaglecrest Ski Area, or visit once the snow flies and ski this family friendly hill. Drive out to Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, part of the Tongass National Forest, and walk the Trail of Time, tracing the retreat of the glacier, which got under way in the mid-1700s. Don’t forget to explore the visitor center too, and catch a film about the glacier, the Juneau Icefield and Southeast Alaska’s rugged geology. The Alaska State Museum is also a sure bet for families now that the facility has been completely remodeled to make it more appealing to younger visitors. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. during winter hours. Admission is a mere $5 for those at least 18; everyone else is free. www.traveljuneau.com.

Outside Destinations

*Anchorage-Seattle, $99 one way on Alaska Airlines andDelta Airlines. Make a long weekend out of this affordable airfare with a stay in Seattle and surrounding areas. Woodland Park Zoo near Seattle’s Greenlake neighborhood is an easy day trip, and the park’s ample green space is a fun way to run off any extra energy. Closer to downtown lies enormous Discovery Park, with exceptional trails and access to sandy beaches for playtime. Explore the Discovery Park Environmental Learning Center, or take a guided hike from a park naturalist before munching on a picnic lunch down by the beach. Find lodging, transportation and other activities at www.visitseattle.org.

*Anchorage-Portland, $97.50 one way ($196 round trip) on Delta Airlines; $139 one way on Alaska Airlines.

Anchorage to Portland is $196 round trip (97.50 each way) on Delta.

The Rose City always shines, even when often-gloomy fall and winter weather drips and drops with rain. Featuring an expansive and easy to navigate light rail system, Portland is fun for kids and affordable for tight transportation budgets. There are so many things to see in this hip city; the Oregon Zoo, OMSI (science center), and Voodoo Doughnuts, but it’s the 4T Trail that always captures our interest, every time. Utilizing the “Ts” of Portland: trains, trails, trams and trolleys, the 4T provides everything kids want in an adventure. It’s an excellent all-weather, any-time-of-year glimpse into Portland’s neighborhood scene and the hundreds of parks and trails within city limits. https://www.travelportland.com/article/4t-trail/.

*Anchorage-Las Vegas, $149 one way on Alaska Airlines. Take your kids to the bright lights of Vegas, but be sure to get out of town and head toward the fascinating landscape of Nevada and Arizona. Hoover Dam, one of mankind’s biggest engineering marvels, is a short drive away. With cooler fall and winter weather, it also has fewer crowds this time of year. Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park are easy drives from Vegas too. There, young adventurers can hike and climb and learn more about the beautiful desert landscape and ancient history of this region. (www.nps.gov/grca and www.nps.gov/zion). Seeking something really different? Head toward Yucca, Arizona, and saddle up with Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch. Fall and winter are its most popular seasons, with sunny days and cool, crisp nights on the range. www.stagecoachtrailsranch.com.

Erin Kirkland is author of Alaska On the Go: exploring the 49th state with children, and publisher of AKontheGO, Alaska’s only family travel resource. Connect with her at e.kirkland0@gmail.com.